Hi IM members

Moose

Hello to you all,
I'm a 34 year old guy from the UK, tavelling to India for the first time in September/October for up to 6 months.
Probably flying to Trivandrum and spendiing the first month in Kerala....then seeing where fate takes me (don't like too much planning ahead...my life doesn't seem to like plans )
Haven't travelled for 15 yrs so this is sure gonna be some experience
Been lurking around here and have found so much great advice already....plenty more to check out...im sure ill be posting more questions the nearer the trip gets, but for now i would just like to thank all the IM members for the informative and amusing posts i've read so far....
Looking forward to chatting with you all and hopefully meeting some of you over there....I CANT BLOODY WAIT! (i'm starting to feel like an exited teenager already )

One quick question.....i dont have a credit card....is a Visa Debit card widely accepted in India?
thats all for now.....time for bed and dreams of distant lands

xealot

Moose keep me posted with your itinerary as I am a single female traveller who will be bicycling aroudn India later this year (Tamil Nadu in October Kerala in November and then on from there, no set plans yet) I'm on the look out for company so stay in touch if you are interested (Don't let the bicycle idea put you off I am planning my trip to be very easygoing and doable on an Indian one-speed bike) Anyways good luck with your plans I'm afraid I don't have much advice to give though as this will be my first trip to India too. Cheerio ... Georgie

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Laziness is not a real word! It's most literal translation is "Differing Priorities"

Nick-H

Hi! Despite appearances, xealot and I are not twin cows ...in fact we've never met even!

Anyway, on the card front... My Switch Card works fine here, both for withdrawing cash from ATMs and in shops. Even the 'chip and pin' system works, although traders here haven't got the point that a signature is not needed if the pin is entered.

BUT, thinking of eggs and baskets, I recommend having more than one card.

Cards do get lost, magnetic strips do fail, etc etc. I don't have experience of phoning the bank and getting a replacement card couriered to me, and wouldn't like to be left without cash until it arrived!

Internet banking makes managing accounts here as easy as from home; you can always make sure that credit card does not accrue an interest-charging balance if you use it.

BTW, where in Cornwall are you?

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Moose

Thanks for your quick replies,

XEALOT:- Hi, i hadn't even thought about cycling in India, but im always up for a challenge sounds good. Feel free to PM me if you like, it would be great to keep in touch and meet up with other first time India travellers to share the experience.
BTW.. love your quote

NICK-H:- Thanks for your comments, ill be taking some TC's with me as backup and will probably get a Credit card as well just in case.
Oh.. and i live near Camelford, right on the edge of Bodmin Moor .Nice in the summer,Hell in the winter

Time to do some research into cycling in India...........

rangss

You question is better answered by someone from your own land...like NicK who has posted here.

My suggestion: carry some Travellers Cheques too.

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...and I took the road less travelled.

Nick-H

I'll be in Cornwall for a couple of weeks in July. What is the best currency to use there? Do most shops accept Indian Ruppees or should I bring traveller's cheques? Will I be able to buy soap? Is it true that the county is now dangerous due to the activities of a group called Mebon Kornow (or something like that...)

Seriously... My mother lives in Padstow and my best friend in Newlyn, and I know that the water is safe to drink except every few years in Camelford .
(and apologies to Mebyon Kernow )

Moose

Nick-H
Free Cornwall!!!!! and i think some shops will still accept the Groat as payment

If your visiting in July you will probably drive right past my house which is on the main route into North Cornwall.....Always welcome for a cuppa and a chat about India

michep2

One more piece of advice about your credit/debit card. Call your bank in advance and let them know you will be there. My credit card was frozen after my first purchase, had to call the US to get it re-activated.

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you don't find India, it finds you....

ddevadatta

Hello Moose and Xealot:

Wow! cycling in India! You must first of all have lots of time on your hands. Second, you must have strong hearts to take such a venture. Third, you must have strong lungs to breathe in all the pollution from the the vehicles. Does open air come to mind?

Kidding aside have lots of fun exploring India.

Nick-H

Gosh! I never heard of that one before and it certainly hasn't happened to me. By now I suppose India is part of my 'regular spending pattern' anyway...

'cos I'm here for a while I told my bank my address for correspondence. Got a letter from them saying I couldn't deposit any more money in my tax-free savings account (not that I've got any ) as I'm not resident in UK! Idiots!